Ball game



April 8, 1941. c. GILFQRD 2,237,986

BALL GAME Filed Feb. 29, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 V BALL TARGET ATTORNEYS.

April 8, 1941. c. F. GILFORD BALL GAME Filed Feb. 29, 19-10 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

April 8, 1941. c. F. GILFORD BALL GAME Filed Feb. 29, 19-10 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 &

CIJZQiZfazaZ INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE BALL GAME Charles F. Gilford, Concord, N. H.

Application February 29, 1940, Serial No. 321,549

, 2 Claims.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a game of that general type in which a projectile, attached to a resilient member, is discharged against a target. The invention aims to supply a device. of the class described, capable of being embodied in difierent forms, all having common features which call for a considerable degree of skill, it being possible, by modifications external to those features, to make the game hard to play, or relatively easy to play as the taste of the public may demand.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of the target, considered relatively to the means whereby the projectile is discharged toward the target.

It is Within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which Will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows, in elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation wherein parts are shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing a modification, parts being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the modified form, parts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan showing another modification;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 6.

In the form disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3, there is provided a support, including a pedestal l, on the upper end of which a vertical target carrier 2 is detachably but securely mounted at 20. A target is associated with the target carrier 2, and comprises tapered and numbered openings 3, arranged in the form of a triangle with its base horizontally disposed and located near the top of the target carrier 2. The uppermost openings are of largest size, and the openings decrease progressively in diameter toward the single, lowcrmost opening.

On the target carrier 2, near the lower edge thereof, are mounted anchors 4, and the lowermost and smallest of the openings 3 is disposed midway between the. anchors. To the anchors 4 are connected the ends of a resilient track 5, which, preferably, is a piece of elastic.

A ring or rider 6 is mounted to slide freely on the track 5, between the anchors 4. To the ring 6 is connected one end of an elastic resilient member 1. A projectile 8 is secured to the outer end of the resilient member I, and in this form of the invention, the projectile is a ball.

In practical operation, the shooter lays hold of the ball 8 and stretches the resilient memher I. When the projectile or ball is released, it strikes the target carrier 2, and if shot with sufficient accuracy, will pass through one of the openings 3 which form the target. The rider 6 can be slid along the track 5, and it is necessary to shoot the ball 8 upwardly, because the track 5 is located below the target openings 3. When the resilient member 1 is stretched, to shoot the ball 8, the track 5, being resilient, is stretched outwardly, away from the target carrier 2, in the form of a V, and owing to the fact that the rider 6 is mounted slidably on the track 5, the arms of the V will have different lengths and different relative resiliencies. Although the game is not so difiicult to undertake as to discourage an operator, much skill is required in playing it. The specific form of target openings 3, considered relatively to the track 5, the slidable rider 6 and the resilient member I, is of considerable but not mandatory importance.

In Figs. 4 and 5, parts hereinbefore described are designated by numerals already used, with the sufiix a. The projectile 8a is a dart, instead of a ball. The marking [0 on the target 2a may be of rectangular form, having center and corner bulls eyes.

The form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 demands a little less skill than the form of Figs. 1 to 3, because it is easier to lodge the dart 811. on some part of the space within the mark l0 than to shoot the ball 8 through one of the holes 3.

In Figs, 6 and '7, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the suffix b. This form of the invention requires less skill than is called for in connection with the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The support lb includes a vertical back stop 25, the target carrier 21) being a horizontal platform. There are openings 21 in the target support 2b and these openings may be arranged in the form of a triangle, having its apex forwardly disposed.

The target that is associated with the target carrier 212 may be in the form of pins 3b, set upright on the target carrier 2b. The target pins 3b are provided at their lower ends with screw eyes 28 or the like, received in the openings 21.

Anchors or screw eyes 29 are mounted on the lower surface of the target support 2b and are connected by flexible and preferably resilient members 30, arranged parallel to the lines of openings 21. Flexible and preferably resilient ties 3| are connected to the screw eyes 28 of the target pins 3!) and to the flexible, resilient membars 30. c

The projectile 8b is used to knock over the target pins 31), the ties 3| and the flexible members 30 preventing the target pins 3b from being stag gered about and hit by the projectile 8b.

What is claimed is: 1. In a game of the class described, a support,

a track extended transversely of the support and anchored thereon at spaced places, a rider, a flexible resilient member connected to the rider, and a projectile attached to the resilient member, the rider being slidable along the track, between the anchorage places, and the track being resilient throughout its entire length, whereby the track can be flexed away from the support in the shape of a V, when the resilient member is stretched, all portions of the V being resilient, the slidable mounting of the rider on the track efiecting changes in the relative lengths of the arms of the V.

2. A game of the class described, constructed as set forth in claim 1, in combination with a target forming part of the support and comprising projectile-receiving openings arranged in the form of a triangle, one angle of the triangle being adjacent to and between the anchorage places, the openings being of progressively decreasing size, the largest openings being at the top of the triangle.

CHARLES F. GILFORD. 

